Fiber tester



Dec. l, 1953 R. S. HOISINGTON FIBER TESTER 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 2, 1952 R. S. HOISINGTON FIBER TESTER Filed Jan. 2, .A1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 TN%\ QW DD n www M R WW@ uw* 4 l l Y .I E S WWA V .uw n NbQwU .W\%mku\\\\m. XWWMWWMW ww \\|l I NWN @www N\ @WJ GW@ K@ www J NN A MS/ QN; NTI N W mg V- F Y @e wvwrll. www l 4 s @QM ra fw o o Q QON 6% M w QW k 1 l o o MJ N1 QT@ m Nhwmh .www ww Ifww SWK MN QQ o .muy Wu NN' h. NW Nm. im

- @frh J wwwu X Dec. 1, 1953 R. s. HolslNGToN FIBER TESTER Filed Jan. 2, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 WWE :3 |NvEN 'roR A ,9495/51 fols/M670# f7-nr.

Dec. l,v 1953 R. /s. HoxslNG-roN FIBER 'TESTER 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 2,l 1952 Patented Dec. 1, 1953 f UNITED STATE-s PATENT-PM@ is claims. (01573-159) This invention relates to machines for determining the length and the length uniformity of nbres and their degrees of surface friction; and has particular reierence to a machine for testing cotton `,iiores though it may be used for similarly testing other bers. v

In the field cotton is in bolls consistingoflocks, each `containing several seeds 'and a mass 'of fibers Wrapped'and interlocked around' the seed," there beingin each boll of cotton, hundreds of Ythousands of extremely nne ribbon like bers of varied lengths spirally twisted from' end to'end and adapted to interengage and interlock 'whenthey are `later 'straightened out andl twisted into After picking, ginning and' baling, and also after compressing and even recompressingt'to high density, samples are removed :from the bales land tests made usually byboth seller and purchaser of test portions `taken .from vthese samples,- the tests being ordinarily `made by shaping the sample into an'elongated round mass of the nature of one inch to one and *one half inches in diameter gripping the sampleinthe testers hands with the thumbs and'orengers videdatagthroughyvhich true comparison" vmais' of the hands pulling and breaking Vthe sample in two about the two thumbs as a fulcrum and observing carefully the breaking pull required, the appearance of the break and the apparent length of the nbers exposed. A relatively very small `sample of the bers is drawn from the broken end of one of the separate sample parts, and the bers of the small sample loosely grasped l'near opposite ends of the sample between the thumbs and foreiingers of thewtesters hands .holders abutting To'provideneans through which under idenf tical conditions as to size of sample, ,moisture content, 'fiber density, and temperaturek tests b edmechanically vmade which are free Yfrom the fallibility of hu'rnan operationandv the vae garie's of other conditions.

- `'11ol providef eansthrough which samples be'V tested andfthe'data obtained byy such=-test recorded onV a suitable chart on which indications',y off ber' length; @interlocking resistanceto slippagesand "integration of overallA` values other than colormaybe obtained. f jj f To puovde-Lrrieansto vdetermine the length, length uniformity Aand frictional resistance `i the fibers to longitudinal stresses. f

The meansfby which the foregoing and other objects'A aref-accomplished and the manner, oi theiraccomplishmentjvvill readily be understood from 'the lfollowing specification on reference'` to the accompanying drawings in whichi kg '1 Fig: I isa sideelevational View ofthe machine sample holders longivvi'tn the carriers andtheir tudinallyseparated; n Y Y Figlv 2`i`s'la corresponding plan View; Fig. 3 is a larger -scale side elevationaPvevv with the carriers in approached relation* and the and-*open to receive asainple,

partonlyjpf oneca-rrier and holder being shown.

l Figs 4 isa'corresponding plan View;

i Fig. 5 is a Setional e1evat10na1 view as annie and gently pulled apartWithout breaking fthe fibers, and these parts are stacked and the operation repeated until a sample'of more'or less uniform .length is obtained ,and being conventionally reportedn termsof fiberlength inthe absence of any more denite tierm'though the complete test actually determines the'interlocking resistance of the nbers t9 longitudinal slip-` page andthe persistence in this resistance-asf-the sample is elongated andwthese indications as yvell asf'directinspection of '1 th length o'f ber influence the length reported.

` Obviously such tests are'dependent'not only 'on thev condition of the samples last'o wetnesspr dryness, and size, but .also onthe .individuality and training o the tester andare subject to thee;

andeftenf' as vvell fallibilities of human nature tici the vagaries of atmospheric conditions f l 'wThe objects of the vpresent invention are: 'To provide mechanicallytesting means ivhich willimakeevery test 'in the same manner ,pro-

and sample compressed; and with a chart callbrated in accordance with an -armV carried weight-yf ,Y f Fig isla' "transverse sectional view onthe line-VIL-VIf-'of-Fig; 5=;- j Vw "l -Fi-g: 7 isa transverse sectional View of a holder taken ionthe line rVIl'f-VII of Fig. 5,7 Y' Fig.r8 a similar view with the holder 'open, i a Fig. 9 isl--a sectional elevational view substan-l tially=corresponding tol Fig. 5 but modified bythe substitutionof-a vertically raised weight and weight raisingfdrumand a correspondingly calibrated chart. 1 N l. 1' Fig. sais. a 'fragmentary view'showiiig aspiring substitted rfor-.the 1'Weight of Fig. '9,

.Y Fig.v 101s a chart card with typical testgrais shown thereon, 1 z-hFi'gs. :A11 is a face-view of a comb=like group offneedlespor needle comb .takenn'th lineXI ewig.- l-,oasafg J -f fiFig.:12' is`- a. corresponding edge-f view""o`f the needle comb@ ',igFig'; 13 is asectionalviewofone oftlenedl' receiving or holding collars, taken on the line XI of Fig. 1 or 5 and the line XIII-XIII of Fig. 14.

Fig. 14 is a plan view taken on the line XIV- XIV of Fig. 13, showing the lower half of the needle collar.

Fig. 15 is a sectional plan view taken on the stepped line XV--XV of Fig. 6 and is part of the same lines of Fig. 5.

Fig. 16 is-a sectional elevational view taken on the une XVI-'XVI of Fig. 15.

Fig. 17 is a sectional elevational view on the stepped line XVII--XVII-XVII-XVII of Fig. 16.

Referring now to the drawings in which the parts are designated by numerals; 20 is a base on which a stationary carrier v22 and a shiftable carrier 24 are mounted. The shiftable carrier is apertured at its inner and outer ends,\24A, 24B, for rods 26, 2'! and 28, is slidably mounted on the upper rod 26, and is provided with wheels and 3'2 which run on the rods 21 and 28 and are respectively mounted on axles 34 and 36, which axles are journaled in the front and back side walls of the carrier 24. The rods 26, 2l and 28 are supported at their inner ends and may be secured to and thus supported by the inner end 22A of the stationary carrier 22. At their outer ends the rods are preferably supported by a bracket 38 secured to and extending upward from the base 20.

Mounted on the inner portions of the carrier 22 and 24 are holders for the samples to be tested, these holders comprising semi-cylindrical upper halves designated by the numbers 42 and 44 and complementary lower halves 42A, 44A, respectively adapted to complete cylindrical holders. The upper halves are hinged along their rearedges to the lower halves by hinges 42B, 44B, and along their front ledges the lower halves carry latch portions 46and the upper halves carry complementary latch portions 46A.

Secured to and forming the inner ends of the holders are cylindrically bored needle holders comprising upper halves 52, 54, and lower halves 52A, 54A respectively. The upper halves of the holder are provided with holes 56 (five shown) which are preferably equally spaced in plan and the lower halves with correspondingly spaced underlying holes 56A, these holes being adapted to receive banks of slim needles 58 of the nature of ble" in diameter and preferably secured in the fashion of a comb to backs 58A, the needles having sharp points and being preferably of uniform size above the points,

Mounted on the outer ends of the carriers 22, 24 are heads 62, 64 which are horizontally bored at the level of and in longitudinal alinement with the axis of the holders 42, 42A and 44, 44A, to slidably receive plunger rods 66 which carry on their inner ends plungers 66A adapted to loosely fit in the bores of the holders 42, 42A, 44, 44A. Disposed around the plunger rods between the pistons and the inner faces of the heads 62 and 64 are compression springs 68 which urge the pistons toward the inner ends of their related holders, The springs may-bear directly against the pistons, and holes 66B are preferably provided through the plunger rods, and annular discs 18 are slidably disposed around the rods so that pins 66C may be inserted in the holes to hold the discs and provide adjustment of the compression of the springs 68. The other portions of the rods are channelled toreceive' and have secured in the channels upwardly facing racks 12. The heads-62, 64 are vertically slotted to provide ear have each a handle or handle portion 18 by means Y of which the pinions may be manually manipulated to retract the plunger rods 66 and heads 66A against the resistance ofthe springs '168,'from an inwardly advance position-within the holder 42, 42A, or 44, 44A as shown in Fig. 5, to a retracted 'position as in Figs. 3 and 4. The handles may be provided with latch portion 18A, adapted for engagement with complementary latch members mounted on the head 62 or 64 as the case may be and urged into latching position by springs Y66A. The latch'members may be provided with portion 88B which may be manually depressed to disengage the latches.

It will here be repeated that the carrier 22, holder 42, 42A and related parts are xedly mounted on the base 2'0, and that the carrier 24, holder 44, 44A and related parts are shiftably mounted on the base for movement toward and away from the carrier 22, holder 42, 42A and related parts.

To visually depict and provide records of the tests, a vertical chart support 82 is disposed rearwardly of the machine and supported preferably from the base 20 as by'a bracket 84.

A removable chart 82A is placed and held against the face of the support in manner not indicated. The chart support and chart being fixedly mounted on the base 20 on which also the carrier 22 and holder 42, 42A are also mounted.

Record is made'on the chart by a stylus 86. The stylus projects rearwardly against the chart from a vertically disposed and shiftable rack 88 which is preferably carried by a frame which may comprise upper and lower cross heads 90 and an intermediate member 90A'rigidly coupled to the heads, the frame being slidably guided as by vertically disposed guide posts 62 which preferably are' carried by'av suitable housing 94. The housing in turn is connected through a bracket 96 to the shiftable 'carrier 24 and imparts to the stylus a horizontal movement across the chart.

Vertical movement of the rack and stylus may be accomplished by a pinion 98, carried by a shaft |00 journalled in the housing 24, and driven by a gearing laterhereinafter described. The shiftable carrier 24 and holder 44, 44A may be moved away from the carrier 22 and holder 42, 42A and the housing 94 and stylus 86 moved across the chart by a traction cable |82, tension on the cable being applied at a uniform rate of speed by apower source (not shown), but which may be an electric motor through suitable reduction gearingr (also not shown).

The cable may lead from the power source over an idler pulley |04 journalled on a cross shaft |06, and horizontally to and around and be secured at its end to a drum H0, which may be the hub of a spur gear l2, the gear and drum being secured as by keying on cross shaft ||4, the shaft being journalled in the side walls of the carrier 24. The .gear ||2 meshes with a second and smaller gear |16 which is secured as by keying on a shaft |l8, also journalled in the side walls of the carrier andextending through one of the walls.

Secured on the outer end of the shaft I8 is an arm H9 which carries on itsvfree end a weight |28, the arm and weight being so disposed as'to hang vertically below the supporting shaftwhen nostressis on the.bers'and the gear ratiobeing such as to swing the weight arm from such depending position to substantially a horizontal position when stress is put on the carrier 24 and its vholder 44, 134A to shift them away from the carrier .22v and its holder 42, 42A, the weight increasingly resisting the stresses due to separating ,movement until the initial resistance of the sample in the holder is broken down at which time sample resistance so breaks down that the weight may swing downward to the initial position below the shaft and rewind the cable on the drum ill, unimportantly increasing the speed of movement of the carrier 2d and holder lit, 44A over the uniform rate of movement of the cable |02. l

The effective resistance of the arm carried weight` increases in accordance with the sines of the angular deflection of the arm from the vertical and requires for record in accordance with this invention a chart vertically and horizontally calibrated in accordance as the chart of Figs. 1 and 5 in which the horizontal lines are spaced in inverted sine relation and decreasing spacing from bottom to top whereas the addition of equal increments of weight permit the use of a chart calibrated vertically and horizontally at equally spaced intervals as the charts of Figs. 9 and 10.

Alternatively as shown in Fig. 9 instead of the arm l|9 and weight |29, the shaft Hs may carry a drum |2| to which a cable |22 is secured, the cable depending and being secured to the bottom link |23 of a chain |24 of heavy links. This chain is hung as from the underside of the top of the carrier 24, so that it hangs down alongside the cable |22 and as the cable winds on the drum, the weight of successive chain links beginning with the bottom link |23, are transf erred to the cable, adding successive equal increments of weight to the load being raised by lthe cable and to the torque of the drum induced by this cable pull and on breakdown of sample resistance, setting up in equal instead of variable succession, substantially the same reaction and rewinding action on the traction cable |92 as did the arm H9 and weight |22.

Fig. 9A shows a further alternative construction in which tension is put on the cable |22 by a spring |25 which may be anchored to a lug 24E depending from the underside of the top of the carrier 21|. The end l 25A cf the spring may be threaded and passed through and adjustably secured to the lug 2d by a nut |25B.

The shaft H3 may extend through the rear wall of the carrier 24 and have keys or otherwise secured thereon a spur gear |24 which meshes with a much smaller gear |25 which it turns at correspondingly increased speed. The gear |26 may be mounted on and secured to a shaft |25 which carries and drives a belt pulley |39. The pulley |33 through a belt |32 drives a much smaller pulley |34 which is journalled on a stud shaft |36 carried by the housing 9d, and is integral with, or secured in driving relation to, a gear |38 journalled on the same shaft. The gear |38 meshes with a pinion it@ -which is secured as by keying on shaft |06 ,icurnalled in the housing. Mounted on and secured to the shaft lill) is a second pinion 98 which meshes with the rack 88 and through the train of gearing described raises the rack and stylus 8&3 responsive to rotative movement of the gear H2 under pull of the cable |32.

A latch |56 may be mounted on the carrier22 of the chart 82A.

'a' very short horizontal mark or 6s anda cemplemeritarvlatchgpin i512; mathe Acarrier 54. by lne-ensei which the .two carriersare1atched together with ,the holders Alaand, 4.4, MA-are in abutting r:rel-ation. and; compression-entire sample inthe holders l,isibeing eifectedfby actions ofthe springs 68.V The latch. isfpreferablyreleased by asolenoid magnet |54 whichmay be energized vthrough .af power circuit y|58 which-*is closed concurrently Awith energizationfofwthe motor (not, shown) through which pull on the carrier 2li is exerted. f f= In operationV of the tester; As a condition precedent to testing, a sample ofvcotton, larger than the sample to be tested, is conditioned for approximately four hours at a temperature of seventy degrees Fahrenheit and sixty-live percent ;relative humidity in an air conditioned room. Y `After this conditioning, a test sample |0 of predetermined weight is weighed out on an accurate balance. j v i The test samplefgisv placed in `a YmachineK-not shown) known as "a blender,` comprising af'series ofwire surface cylinders. which round up the sample, uniformly distribute the fibers-and estab'- lish a uniforrn-degree'of` entanglement and make the sample ready for test.vr Y W 1 f The shiftable carrier 24,:is moved' torbr-ing the inner end of the holder t4, 44A against the `inner end of the stationary holder 52, 42Av and the latch 50 is engaged with the pin |52 to hold the carriers 22 and 2li against relative displacement and the banks of' needles "58 are removedA from both holders. The handles 18 are turned inward, retracting the plungers 66A against the pressure ofthe springs 58 and compressing kthe Ysprings and the latches arevr engaged with the handle latch parts '18AA to hold the handles down andthe plungers retracted. The sample holder latches i6 are disengaged, the'tops' 32,v 44 of the holders are raised; the sample -iliwhich has been Vmade readyin the blender forf'test, is'placed inthe bottom halves 132A, 44A of the holders and the tops closedrandlatched: f The latches 30 are disengagedandthe springs G8 allowed to take over and force theplungers 66A against the oppositeends of-the sample in the holders longitudinally 'shortening andcompressing the sample to the desired density. 'f The banks orconibs ofy needles' Slof vwhich there arev4 two arepushed downward through the holes itin the'top halves 42 and 44 of the holders and through the longitudinally compressed sam# ple lyFigs. 5 and-'9, and-'into the holes 55A in the-bottom halves vMAMMA of the holder vs'ubstantially anchoring` the sample in adjacent planes in the two'holders and the sa: .ple is ready At the'beginning ofthetest a chart 82A vis see' cured against the front-face of the chart holder. rlhere being noraising pull on the` weight |20 or its alternate formthe drum and chain assembly l2|-|22, no raising force on the stylus 86 at this time exists andthe s ylusris adjacent the bottoni To start the test, the carrier latches Ii) are released, the carrier 2@ and holder dii, MA moving slightly away from the stationary carrier `22 and holder 42, A, and the stylus carrier 94 and stylus y8&5, a like amount with reference to the chart holder |32 and chart 82A, the stylus making indication |62 lon the chart. On release of the latches the motor or other power source (not shown) is energized anda steady pull at a slow'uniform rate set up on"tlie cable |02 and through'this cable on'the drum" like hub, o'r drum, I |0 of the gear I |2. VThe carrier 241at this time is substantially immobilized by resistance of the -sample |50 in the holders 42,'42A and 44, 44A to separating movement'ofithe holder 44, 44A and the pull on the tractor cable '|02 expends itself, almost if not entirely in rotating the drum |I by unwinding movement of the cable through the gear ||2, meshing gear v| |6,'shaft I|8 and gear'l24, drives the gear |26, shaft |28 and pulley |30 and through the belt |3'2pulley |34, shaft |36, gear |38, ipinion |40, shaft |00'and pinion 98 vraises therack'with which the latter pinion meshes and the "stylus' carrie'dby the rack scribes an upright line |64 on the chart 82A.

Turning movement of the shaft ||8 above described turns the drum |2| carriedby the shaft or alternatively swings thearm ||9, the turning being increasingly resisted by the incrementally increasing weight of the chain links |24 (Fig. 9) as they arepicked up by the cable |22 as it is wound'on the drum '|2|, or alternatively as the weight |20 is raised by the arm movement, and upward movement of the stylus continues until the'increasing resistance of the weight |20, or |24 as the case may be, balances and overcomes the frictional resistance of the sample |60 in the holders 42, 42A and 44, 44A to fiber separation and the point where such separation of the fibers of the sample is reached, slippage of fibers being effected, it being here noted that the effective weight action on the shaft I I8 is increased by the radius of the drum |2|, or the length of the arm H9, and again increased by the gears 'I I6, ||2 and the small size of the drum ||0, so that the pull of the cable |02, and pull on the sample is multiplied many times over the weight used.

The total movement of the cable |02 up to this point even with tenacious long staple cotton samples hardly ever exceeds (three eighths) of an inchv and with short staple'cotton, or inferior cotton is much less.

The movement above described and the resistance set up by the incrementally increasing weight'of the chain |22 are duplicated in the form of the device shown in Fig. 9A in which the spring |25 increasingly resists the wind up of the cable |22.

When-the fiber separation point of the sample is reached and resistance becomes less the weight |20 or |24 drops unwinding the weight lift cable |22 from the drum I2| and through the gears I|6`and I2 'rewinds the traction cable |02 accelerating-theV carrier movement during the descent ofthe weight, slowly or abruptly in accordance with the tenacity ofthe sample' as distinguished from its breaking point and through the gearing heretofore described as raising the stylus 86, lowers the stylus, scribing on the chart 82A, moving with the carrier 24 and holder 44 a downwardly extending curve across the chart, curves typically illustrate the graphs thus drawn and are shown' on the chart of Fig. 10 as follows:

If the sample be a long staple one of high fiber bonding strength-a graph similar to graph W will result. In this graph the initial upright line |64 of thegraph extends as to a height A then curves somewhat abruptly over and upward to a maximum-height B, and thereafter drops with increasing abruptness to the base line at C. A graph XV is illustrative of a sample of equal fiber length and of less bonding strength. In this graph the `begirming of ruptureis shown at D,

maximum at 'li'. and overall 'persistence at "substantially the same point'asthe'graphW.

'Graph 1SZ is illustrative of'a very 'short' staple high bondingstrength' sample the initial break being at G, maximum at H and end' point Vat J.

Graph Z is illustrative of test ofa longer'staple very low bonding strength sample. Where the incrementally added weights of Fig. '9 are used the area of the graphmay be measured by a planimeter.

Interpretation of a graph on the chart depends on the vertical height which 'is'directly indicative of the frictional resistance of the staple ofthe sample tested, the horizontal width of the Vgraph indicative of the length' ofv thestaple and bonding factor, and area of the graph of theoverall properties of the sample.

The charts are preferably coordinated`with manual methods now' used by comparing .graphs of a number of differing samples with the average of a large number of manual'tests of each of the samples vgraphed and from' such'comparisons indicia markings' derived, whichmay be imprinted on cards to be used to receive graphs'of subsequently tested samples, such markingsnot being shown. As an instance of this, thegraphs Yand Z shownon the cardv 82A of Fig. 10 and preferably a large vadditional number of graphs may be each so compared' withthe average of a large number of manual tests made "of each of the same samples and from these, indicia (not shown) may be marked'on the card and reproduced on cards'for subsequent use.

t will be understood that the drawings and descriptions thereof hereinbefore" set out are i1- lustrative only Aand are not to be considered as limiting, except in claims where they are s'pec'ically set out.

I claim:

l. A fiber tester including a tubular stationary holder and a shiftable tubularholder, movable into end abutting relation to receive an elongated sample of massed fibers for testing,`means for latching said holders in said abutting relation, means for Vlongitudinally'and oppositely compressing the outer ends of a sample of bers disposed in said holders equally inward toward the abutting ends of said holders,needle means resisting sample displacement insertable into and transversely across said holders and through said sample in immediate adjacency to the abutting end of each of saidA holders, and means for exerting pull on said shiftable holder away from said stationary holder against resistance of said ber sample and means for'in'dicating. said resistance.

2. A ber tester inaccordance with claim 1 in whichsaid holders each comprise an upwardly facmg lower half anda complementary downwardly facing upper half and said upperhalves are hingedalong one side'edge to said'lower halves and are provided with oppositely disposed latching means.

3. A fiber testerin accordance with claim-.l in which the upper 'and lower halves of said holders have holes substantially equally spaced horizontally in a vertical plane adjacent the abutting ends of the holders and the lower halvesof the holders have complementary equally spaced holes 1n the same plane and said needle means comprises two banks of needles each group including a backland needles conforming in numberr size and spacing to the holes in the upper andlower halves of said holders.

4. ber tester includingan elongated base, ay-stationary carrier secured to said base, and a stationary tubular holder secured to said carrier, a movable carrier longitudinally shiftable along said base and a movable tubular holder secured to said movable'carrier and, shiftableinto end abutting relation with said stationary holder to, cooperatively with saidv stationary holder, receive an elongated test sample of loosely massed fibers for testing; plungers respectivelyat opposite ends of said holders, abutments, respectively carried by said stationary. and movable carriers,` compression springs respectively interposed kbetween said holders and said abutments, urging said plungers longitudinally and oppositely inward against opposite ends of a sample in said holders and longitudinally compressing', said sample, means respectively mounted 4 on said carriers manually operable forretracting said plungers and releasable latching means for holding said retracting means during placing of said' sample, means in immediate adlacencyto the abutting end'of each respectively of said holders for resisting displacement of said compressedsample with respect to said holder, means forexertingsample rupturing vpull 'away from said stationary holder against resistance of said sample, said pull means including an interposed portion incrementally increasing to said rupt'uringY pull and incrementally reversely decreasingsubsequent to rupture, and means including 'cooperating parts coupled re# spectively to said vstationary and said movable holders for indicating' the increasing and decreasing amounts'fof said pull andthe relative extension of said sample under said pull.

5. A fiber tester comprising an'elongated base and parts carried thereby including a stationary tubular holder secured to said base and a movable tubular holder longitudinally shiitable along said base into end abutting relation'with said stationary holder to cooperatively receive with said stationary holder an elongated test sample of loosely massed fibers for testing, compressing means respectively at opposite ends of said holders, means coupled to said stationary holder and means coupled to movable holders respectively, for moving said compressing means longitudinally and oppositely inward and longitudinally compressing said sample of fibers in said holders, means in immediate `adjacency to the abutting ends of each respectively of said holders for resisting sample displacement with respect to its said holder, meansfor exerting sample rupturing pull on said movable holder away from said stationary holder against resistance of said sample, said pull means including an interposed portion incrementally increasing to said rupturing pull and thereafter incrementally decreasing as separation of the end portions of said sample-is completed, and means including cooperating parts coupledrespectively to said stationary and said movable holders for indicating the increasing amount of said pull tosaid rupture point and the decreasing arnount'o'iL said pull therebe'yond and the relative extensionof'said sample under said pull. Y. ,Y 11i' 6. rA iiber tester comprising an elongated base and Darts carried ,thereby including a stationary holder secured to said bas-e and a shiftable carrier mounted on and longitudinally shiftable along said base, a tubular holder mounted on said shiftable carrier and longitudinally shiftable therewith into end abutting relation with said stationary holder to cooperatively receive an elongated test sample of loosely massed fibers for testing, means respectively at opposite ends of said holders for longitudinally compressing said sample in said holders, means in immediate ad- 'jacency to the abutting end of each respectively of said holders for resisting sample displacement with respect to said holders, means for exerting on said movable carrier and holder sample rupturing pull away from said stationary holder against resistance of said sample, and means including cooperating parts coupled respectively to said stationaryl and said movable holders for indicating the increasing amount of said pull up to rupture, and decreasing amounts of said -pull thereafter, and the relative extension of said sample under said pull, said pull means including rst drum journalled by said movable carrier, a pull cable around and secured to said drum, means for exertinga sample rupturing pull on said cable; a second drum spaced from said first drum and journalled in said carrier, interposed gearing driving said second drum, a resistance cable around and secured to said second drum in opposed pull relation to said pull cable, and means secured to said resistance cable adapted to exert incrementally increasing resistance to turning of said drums. f

7. A liber tester in accordance with claim 6 in which said second drum is secured on a transversely disposed shaft journalled in said shiftable carrier and extending through and beyond the back wall of said carrierya chart holder is mounted on said base, a stylusholder is mounted on and longitudinally movable with saidmovable carrier, said holder carries a vertically shiftable stylus, said stylus projects into scribing engagement with a chart on said holder, and gearing adapted to raise and lower said stylus is carried by said holder and driven by said second drum shaft.

8. A ber tester comprising a base and parts carried thereby including a stationary tubular holder, a carrier shiitably mounted on said base for movement toward and away from said holder and a shiftable tubular holder mountedjon said carrier in longitudinal alignment with said stationary holder and movable into abuttingrelation therewith to receiveV an elongated sample of loosely massed bers for testing; plunger means alined with and respectively at 'opposite ends of said holders and means for moving said plungers inward from the outer ends of said holders for compressing a mass ofnbers disposed insaid holders, means insertable transversely to said holders and through said compressed sample' in immediate adjacency to the abutting end of each respectively of said holders vfor* locally resisting sample displacement relatively to said holders, means for exerting through said shiftable carrier, pull on said shiftable holder awayfrom said'stationary holder against resistance of said fiber sample, means for indicating said resistance, said pull exerting means including a first drum-jour* nalled by said carrier,`a cable around and secured to said drum and means for exerting an unwinding pull onsaid cable, a shaft spaced from said drum, and journalled insaidcarriena sec',- ond drum secured on saidshaft, a second-loable around and secured to 'said .second drum'and gearing interposed between said drums turning said second drum to wind said second cable thereon as said rst cable unwinds from said iirst drum, means for exerting on said second cable progressively increasing resistance to winding until resistance of said sample is overcome. and separating movement of said second holder and said carrier occurs; said indicating means including a chart carried by said base, movable with l pinion shaft coordinated to turn said pinion 1-1 said-,carrier across :Said Chart, 4verticallydisposed guideameans mountedin saidhousing, astylus carrier including avertical rack slidably mounted onsaidguide astylus carried by said stylus carrier and projecting intoA chart, engagement, a pinion shaft journalled in said housing, a pinion secured on saidshaft, and meshing with-.said rack, a gear securedon said carrierA journalled shaft, and :driving means interposed between said geanand said pinion shaft coordinated to turn said pinion and raise said stylus responsiveA to cable Winding movement of said seconddrum and drum shaft, land to -lowersaid stylus on unwinding vmovement of y said (drum.

9. A fiber tester comprisinga basel and, parts carriedmthereby including a stationary tubular holder, a carrierl shiftably mounted on said .base for movement toward and away from said holder ana shiftable tubular holder mounted on said carrier and in longitudinal alinement with Isaid stationary holder and movable into an abutting relation therewith to receive an elongated same ple of ,loosely massed bers for testing, meansfor longitudinally compressing said sample and locale ly anchoring said sample to the abutting ends of said holders, means for exerting through said shiftable carriers, pull on said shiftable holder away from said stationary holder against` resistance of said ber sample, and means for.I in dicating said resistanceA to said pull exerting meansincluding a rstdrum journalledby said carrier, a cable around and secured to said drum and meansfor exerting an unwinding test pull on said cable, a shaft spaced from saiddrum. andjournalled in said carrier, a second drumsecured on said shaft, a second cable around and secured to said second drum and gearing interposed between saiddrums turning said second drum to Wind said cable thereon as rst cable unwinds. from said rst drum means for exerting on said second cable progressively increasing resistance to winding yuntil the resistance of said sample is overcome, and movement of said ,second holderv andV said carrier occurs, said indicating means including achart carried by said base a vertically shiftable stylus and a stylus housing carried by andmovable with said carrier across said chart andmeans for raising andulowering said stylus responsive to resistance of said samf ple, said means including verticallydisposed guide means mounted in said housing, a styluscarrier including ak vertical rack slidably mounted on said guide means a pinion said housing, apinion secured on said shaft and pinion driving means including a gear secured onV said` carrier journalled shaft, and driving means interposed between said gear andL said and raise said stylus responsive to cable winding movement ofsaid second drum and said shaft, and, lower said stylus on unwinding movement ci said drum,

A kiibertester including a stationary holder anda shiftable holder, movable substantially in? to end abutting relation to receive an elongated sample o f massed bers for testing, means for oppositely compressing the ends of a sample of 12 bersdisposed in said holders equallytoward the adjacent ends of- 'saidholde'rs needle means `re,`. sistingflsample displacement insertable into Ysaid holdersand'through said sample in immediate adjacen'cy tothe said ends of'e'ach of said holders, andrneans yfor exerting pull on said shiftable holder'away.,fromfsaid stationary holder against resistance of saidl fiber sample. A

11. A fiber testerincluding a tubular stationary holder and ashiftable tubular holder, movable to .shift one end of said shiftable holder subiV stantially into abutting relation with oneend oi saidstationary holderf'to position said holders to receivean elongated sample of massed ,bers forv testing, means for longitudinally and oppo-l sitelycompressing theouter ends of a sample 'of fibers disposed Vin saidholders equally inward towardthe adjacent ends of said holders, needle means resisting. sampleV displacement insertable into and transversely across said holders and through said sampleA inimmediatev adjacency to the said ends of each of said holders, means for exerting pull on vsaid shiftable holder away from said stationary holder against resistance of said ber sample, and means for indicating said resistance.

shaft journalled in 12. A fibertester. including a pair of holders, one of saiduholders being shiftable to and from a position in which adjacent ends of said holders are in substantialfabutment and said holders are adapted to receive an elongated sample of massed fibers vfor testing, means for compressing the ends of a sample of bers disposed in said holders when in said` positionzequally toward said adjacent ends, needle rneans resisting sample displacement insertable into saidA holders and through saidsample in immediate vadjacency, to said adjacent ends, andfmeans for exerting pull on saidfshiftable holder away from said other holder againstresistance of said b'er sample.

13.- A fiber tester including a pair of holders, one of Asaid holders being shiftable to and from a positionin which adjacent ends of said holders are in substantial abutment and said holders are adapted to receive an elongated sample of massed fibers for testing, means for latchingsaid holders-.in said'vposition, means for compressing ythe ends of-a sample of bers disposed-in said holders when in said pisition equally toward said adjacentends, needleimeans resisting sample disinto said holders and placement insertable through saidA sample inimmediate adjacency to said adjacentA ends, and means for exerting pull on Saidfshiftable holder away from said other holder against resistance of said fiber sample.

RALPH S. HOISINGTON.

References, Cited in the le ,of' this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

